By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Imagine starting a new job every year. That's what going back to school feels like for some children, nurse practitioner Julie Buechel of Bustamante Pediatrics said Monday on "First Look with Scott Cox."

"Can you imagine starting a new job every year? A new boss? New co-workers," Buechel said as thousands of students headed back to school.

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Children may be nervous as they start a new school or new grade. Having a new teacher is much like having a new boss, Buechel said. And new classmates are much like new co-workers.

The nurse practitioner said she tells her own three children to tell her one good thing and one bad thing about their day, because there will be both. And for every bad thing -- even if there are five -- she wants to hear a good thing.

She urged parents to keep open the lines of communication with their children.

Californian Editorial Page Editor Robert Price asked about the kinds of health issues that come through the pediatrics practice. This time of year it's physicals, both for kindergartners and for high school athletes, Buechel said.

She urged people to eat small meals during the day, and suggested low-fat and low-carbohydrate choices. Good snacks include fresh fruit and vegetables, string cheese and yogurt.

* Asthma. Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath are the main symptoms that often signal a child needs to use his inhaler, Buechel said. Kids have to be in tune with their body and know when they are struggling.

"Asthma is very serious," Buechel said.

* Peanut allergies. Price said the public hears so much about peanut allergies, and he does not remember it being an issue in the past.

"I think it's just being more aware," Buechel said. We now have better education and increased awareness.

The body of a large paddle-tailed rodent was found early Tuesday in the traffic lanes of southbound Mohawk Street north of Truxtun Avenue, suggesting Bakersfield's fabled bike path beaver -- scourge of local saplings -- may have died.

The lush grasses and sweeps of wildflowers cloak much of the damage to the small canyon in a blanket of ephemeral green. But Ellen Cypher and Erin Tennant can see it as they walk along a sandy route that has been churned into the bottom of the wash by motorcyclists and quad riders.

Even Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez's self-serving, disingenuous and downright contemptuous ranting against a proposed ban of Piccolo Pete and ground flower-type fireworks wasn't nearly as stunning to me as Supervisor David Couch's silence and eventual vote against the ban.